Warm weather coaxed early blooms from a pink trumpet tree near Canyon Crest Town Center. (Kris Lovekin) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Thursday Gazette: March 5, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Thursday! Before we get into today's news, we want to take a moment to say thank you. Every morning you open this newsletter, you're placing a little bit of trust in us, and we don't take that lightly. It truly is an honor. So in the spirit of Words Matter Week, here are a few we mean wholeheartedly: we're grateful, and we're excited. Starting this Saturday, you'll begin receiving Your Riverside Weekend, a brand-new Saturday edition catching you up on the Riverside stories that mattered most each week. We can't wait to share it with you.
Riverside Art Museum Celebrates Legacy of Leaders Who Shaped RAM and The Cheech
Seven leaders recognized for roles in building RAM and The Cheech, including four posthumous honorees.
Original artwork commissioned for Riverside Art Museum 2018 Top Dog Awards by r. mike Nichols. (Courtesy of the Riverside Art Museum)
The Riverside Art Museum will recognize seven leaders — including three posthumously — at its annual TOP DOG awards March 11, spotlighting the people who built both RAM and The Cheech.
Why it matters: If you care about Riverside's arts scene, this is a chance to celebrate the leaders who transformed a dog pound into a downtown cultural anchor — and helped bring The Cheech to life.
Driving the news: Former Executive Director Drew Oberjuerge headlines the 2026 honorees, recognized for 13 years of leadership and shepherding The Cheech from concept to opening — half of which unfolded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The big picture: The TOP DOG awards reflect how much RAM has changed — from a small organization in an abandoned city dog pound to a two-site museum anchored by a Julia Morgan-designed landmark and a nationally recognized Chicano art center.
2026 honorees:
Drew Oberjuerge, former Executive Director
Todd Wingate, lead capital campaign donor for The Cheech
Lucile Arntzen, former RAM President and Art Alliance leader
Ofelia Valdez-Yeager (posthumous), board president and Cheech Capital Campaign chair
Dan Benner (posthumous), architect who donated expertise during The Cheech construction
Madelyn Millen (posthumous), UCR curator and collections archivist
Doug McCulloh (posthumous), photographer and curator
What's next: The celebration is Wednesday, March 11, 5:30–8 p.m. at the Riverside Art Museum's Julia Morgan building, 3425 Mission Inn Ave. Tickets are $125 and are available here.
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